Self-driving cars safer than those driven by humans: Bob Lutz

If lawmakers and insurance companies are smart, self-driving cars should hit the road soon because they are actually be safer than those vehicles driven by humans, Bob Lutz, former General Motors vice chairman, told CNBC Monday.

"The autonomous car doesn't drink, doesn't do drugs, doesn't text while driving, doesn't get road rage," Lutz said in an interview with "Street Signs."

"Young, autonomous cars don't want to race other autonomous cars, and they don't go to sleep."

He anticipates the "occasional" accident but said the crash rate will probably be about 10 percent of human-caused wrecks.

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Bob Lutz

On Sunday, GM announced it will be offering a car that almost drives itself. The automaker said one of its 2017 Cadillacs will be equipped with a semi-autonomous system for freeways. The system, dubbed "Super Cruise," will use radar and cameras to keep the car in the center lane and a safe distance behind the cars in front of it. It will also bring the car to a complete stop in traffic and can drive in stop-and-go traffic.

Other automakers offer similar systems, but GM said it is the first to announce a system that operates at highway speeds.